father. My fortune is his; and Thaddeus knows that if danger
threatened him I would fling myself into it and drag him out, as I
have done before."

"And that is saying a good deal, my dear friend," said the countess.
"Devotion is like a flash of lightning. Men devote themselves in
battle, but they no longer have the heart for it in Paris."

"Well," replied Adam, "I am always ready, as in battle, to devote
myself to Paz. Our two characters have kept their natural asperities
and defects, but the mutual comprehension of our souls has tightened
the bond already close between us. It is quite possible to save a
man's life and kill him afterwards if we find him a bad fellow; but
Paz and I know THAT of each other which makes our friendship
indissoluble. There's a constant exchange of happy thoughts and
impressions between us; and really, perhaps, such a friendship as ours
is richer than love."

A pretty hand closed the count's mouth so promptly that the action was
somewhat like a blow.

"Yes," he said, "friendship, my dear angel, knows nothing of bankrupt
sentiments and collapsed joys. Love, after giving more than it has,
ends by giving less than it receives."

"One side as well as the other," remarked Clementine laughing.

"Yes," continued Adam, "whereas friendship only increases. You need
not pucker up your lips at that, for we are, you and I, as much
friends as lovers; we have, at least I hope so, combined the two